Panel Discussion: 'Measuring what matters: biodiversity metrics for business and finance'

This panel discussion will explore how biodiversity science can better inform decisions in business, finance, government and other bodies.

The panel will examine:

• What biodiversity science can currently say about state and trends, and which dimension genuinely matter for decision-making across marine and terrestrial ecosystems.
• How to navigate proliferating metrics and frameworks (TNFD, SBTN, national indicators, emerging biodiversity credits).
• Where scientific frontiers lie: from genomics and AI-enabled monitoring to functional trait metrics, plural biodiversity knowledge and global synthetic indices.
• How to ensure that scientific advances directly support nature-positive trajectories and do not inadvertently reinforce extractive forms of measurement or governance.

The discussion will also consider how biodiversity metrics can be developed in ways that respect the rights, knowledge systems, and governance structures of Indigenous peoples (many of whom who are among the world’s most effective stewards of biodiversity).

Of course, better science is only part of what is needed for business to be more biodiversity positive. This event is part of a seminar series co-organised by OMS and the LSE Global School of Sustainability in support of the IPBES Plenary meeting taking place in Manchester in the first week of February. The Plenary will see the release of a major IPBES Report on Biodiversity & Business and this seminar series will explore topics related to this theme (biodiversity, economic and political economy aspects).